Loose leaf binder



Jan. 12, 1937. .1. COOPER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 12, 1937. .1. COOPER LOOSE LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1934 Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFECE LOOSE LEAF BINDER of New York Application January 2, 1934, Serial No. 704,939

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder, preferably of the class set forth in my Patents Nos. 1,934,040, November 7th, 1933, and 1,919,827, July 25th, 1933, but obviously may be used in connection with other constructions of loose leaf binders if desired.

Binders of this class are extensively used for binding a considerable number of relatively large record sheets into book form as perma- 10 nent records to be used more or less frequently in the transaction of business and in such manner that the book may be opened flatwise at any page for convenience of the entry of records and for the inspection of such records 15 without in any way overstraining the parts of the binder and at the same time permitting the entire set of leaves or any part thereof to be easily and quickly removed or replaced as may be desired, thus permitting the binder to be reused for the reception of other sets of leaves or sheets.

The particular construction of binder shown and described is preferably provided with releasable binder posts adapted to be passed through corresponding holes in the sheets to be bound for holding them in regular order both in the open and closed positions of the covers of the book and, if desired, may also be used for holding the entire set of sheets together when released and removed from the binder.

The opposite ends of these posts are adapted to enter corresponding openings in a pair of opposed tubular bars or post supporting members which are hingedly connected to the opposite lengthwise edges of a suitable back plate and also to the adjacent portions of the cover sections to swing laterally in opposite directions relatively to the back plate and cover sections to form what may be termed a leaf-supporting unit.

Suitable devices are also provided for locking and releasing the opposite ends of the posts to and from the corresponding tubular bars, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means whereby when the covers are opened and in the absence of any leaves between them, and one of the tubular bars is released, it will automatically unfold against 5 the adjacent portion of the cover while the other tubular bar with the posts attached thereto will also automatically unfold against the adjacent portion of the corresponding cover to cause the posts to stand vertically ready to 55 receive the leaves to be bound.

Another object is the provision of means operable tohold the locking devices in unlocked position when they are released from the ends of the posts, said holding means being releasable upon engagement of the tubular bars with the ends of the posts.

A further object is to provide each tubular bar with resilient means for forcing the corresponding locking device outwardly to its locking position when the locking device holding 1 means is released.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the binder will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying the various features of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 4, through the back members and tubular bars, showing the posts as interlocked with the tubular bars and the opposite covers in their unfolded positions and partly broken away, the posts of one tubular bar being shown in their dotted position ready to receive the loose leaves when the other tubular bar is released from interlocking engagement with the posts.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan, partly broken away, showing portions of the back members and cover sections but omitting the tubular bars and posts.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on a reduced scale taken on line 4- 3, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 4.

Figure 6' is an enlarged detail sectional View taken in the plane of line 66, Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an inverted perspective view of .the detached back plate, partly broken away. 40

As illustrated, this loose leaf binder comprises a back unit 1!, opposite cover units 2, and a leafsupporting unit consisting in this instanceof a back plate or guard 3, opposite lengthwise tubular bars 5, and a plurality of, in this instance five, posts 5, together with releasable devices for locking the opposite ends of the posts 5 to the corresponding tubular bars 3, and additional devices for holding the locking devices in their unlocked positions.

withdrawing the tubular bars from the posts when the locking devices are withdrawn from their locking position to permit the removal of the posts.

That is, when the covers are opened flatwise to substantially horizontal positions preparatory to assembling the loose leaves between them and the opposite ends of the posts are interlocked with their respective tubular bars, one of the posts of each set is utilized to automatically release the holding means from its holding posi tion, thereby allowing both locking devices to assume their locking positions for holding the posts and tubular bars in relatively fixed relation.

Then, when it is desired to assemble the loose leaves in the binder, one of the locking devices will be moved by hand against the action of its retracting means for disengaging it from the adjacent ends of the posts whereupon the actuating means for the tubular bars will automatically rock said bars outwardly into engagement with the adjacent portions of the corresponding covers, thus causing the posts on the other bar to stand in a more or less vertical position for receiving the previously apertured leaves and holding the latter in their assembled relation.

When the leaves are thus assembled upon' the posts, the other cover may be folded over and upon the assembled leaves during which operations the ends of the posts on the one cover will automatically interlock with the tubular bar of the other cover by reason of the fact that one of the posts will automatically trip the holding means and allow the locking bar to be forced to its locking position.

The present invention, therefore, is directed more particularly to the means for automatically opening either of the tubular bars with the posts thereon when the posts are released from the other tubular bar so as to cause the post to stand in a vertical position most convenient for assembling the loose leaves thereon.

Another feature of the invention, however, lies in the use of a spring or equivalent device for automatically forcing each of the locking devices endwise outwardly to its locking position when released, thus requiring a' reverse movement of the locking member by hand against the action of the spring in order to release the adjacent ends of the posts therefrom, all of which greatly facilitates the operation of assembling and releasing the leaves upon and from the binder.

The back section 5 is preferably laminated and concavo-convex in cross section with the convex -side facing outwardly or downwardly and is quite similar to that shown in my Patent No. 1,934,040 in that it comprises a relatively rigid core member 6 of rawhide or other suitable material encased within a sheathing l of leather or equivalent binding material, the outer surface of the leather being continuous while the opposite lengthwise edges thereof are folded over and upon the concave side of the core 6, it being understood that the entire sheathing will be cemented or otherwise permanently secured to the core.

If desired, a thin layer 3 of cloth or other suitable material may be adhesively secured to the inwardly folded edges of the heathing I, as shown more clearly in Figure 3 for binding said edges to each other and to the core 8.

A plurality of, in this instance seven, metal hinge straps 9 are riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the inner concave face of the back member I, in longitudinally spaced parallel relation transversely of the back piece, said straps being of approximately the same width as the back piece and each having its opposite ends offset inwardly and outwardly at It in slightly spaced relation to the adjacent portions of the concaved side of the back piece, the opposite ends of each hinge strap being provided with eyes I! for receiving pintle rods i2 hereinafter more fully described, see Figures 2 and 3.

Each of the cover sections 2 is also laminated and somewhat similar to that shown in my Patent No. 1,934,040 in that it is composed of relatively stiff layers 13 of cardboard or equivalent material and a surface covering i l of leather or other suitable material preferably the same as that of the outer surface sheeting l of the back piece l, the outer marginal edges of the surface covering it being folded inwardly upon the inner face of the adjacent inner layer of the cover and adhesively secured thereto, see Figure 2.

A finishing layer it of paper or other suitable material is adhesively secured to the inner surface of each cover to overlap upon the inwardly folded edges of the outer surface layer Hi to protect said overlapping edges against loosening.

The inner edge of each of the outer surface layers 14 is provided with an extension flap I5 projecting inwardly across the inner face of the adjacent edge of the back piece i and terminating a relatively short distance from the longitudinal center thereof so as to slide transversely relatively to the back piece as the cover is opened and closed, the object being to give the appearance of continuity between the outer surface covering i of the back piece i and outer surface covering i l of the cover and for other purposes explained in my patent above referred to, see Figures 2, 3, and 4.

The inner edge of each flap i6 is reinforced by means of a relatively thin metal binding strip ll riveted or otherwise secured thereto to prevent undue wear thereof and also to form a durable connection with the adjacent end of one or more coil springs is which serve to draw the inner ends of the flaps it toward each other and thereby to assure the retention of the flaps in parallel spaced relation and also to take up any slack in the flaps as the covers are opened and closed.

A metal hinge plate I?! is riveted or otherwise secured to and between the layers E3 of each cover to extend inwardly along the inner face of the extension flap i6 and is provided along its inner edge with a plurality of, in this instance seven, longitudinally spaced eyes 26 in spaced relation to and in axial alinement with the eyes It for receiving the adjacent pintle l2 and thereby hingedly connecting the cover sections 2 to the back piece i through the medium of the hinge straps 9.

The back plate or guard 3 extends nearly the full length of the back piece l across the corn cave side thereof and in spaced relation thereto to form an intervening chamber in which the springs l8 and extension flaps it including the reinforcing strips ii are located, each of the opposite longitudinal edges of said plate being provided with a plurality of, in this instance four, eyes 2i in longitudinally spaced relation to and in axial alinement with the corresponding previously mentioned eyes H and 2G for receiving the adjacent pintle rod l2, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 5.

enemas A relatively short reinforcing block 2.; of plano-convex cross section is riveted or other.- wise secured to the lower face of one end of the plate 3 with its convex side closely adjacent {the concave inner face of the back piece I, the other end of the plate being provided with a flange 23 of similar cross sectional contour adapted to enter the concave face of the adjacent end of the back piece so that the members 22 and 23. constitute bearing members adapted to rest loosely upon the inner concave face of said back piece, see Figure 7.

This plate serves to support the back edges of the several leaves when assembled upon the posts 5 in the manner previously described' The tubular bars 5 extend along opposite edges of the back plate 3 in transversely spaced parallel relation and'each bar is provided along its lower outer corner with a plurality of eyes 2dr arranged in longitudinally spaced relation and also in spaced relation to the eyes ii, 29 and 2! coaxial therewith for receiving the adjacent pintle rod l2 and allowing each tubular bar to swing laterally toward and from the back plate 3 and also toward and from the adjacent extension flaps it of the cover sections 2 so that the: plate 3 becomes a stop for limiting the inward swinging movement of the tubular bars to positions at right angles to the plate 3 while the hinge plates i9 constitute stops for limiting the outward rocking movement of the tubular bars to substantially horizontal positions.

It is now clear that each of the cover sections 2 is hinged through the medium of the adjacent pintle 12 to. the adjacent side of the back piece i and t0 the corresponding side of the back plate 3 and that each tubular bar t is also hinged by the corresponding pintle E2 to the adjacent edge] of the back plate and also to the corresponding side of the back piece 8 and to the adjacent cover section 2, thus permitting each cover section to be opened and closed independently of the tubular bars 4 and also relatively to the back piece I and back plate 3.

It will be observed upon reference to Figure 2 that the extension flaps l6 project through the spaces between the pintle-engaging eyes and adjacent edges of the back piece and that they are free to slide back and forth in said spaces as the covers are opened and closed.

It will also be noted upon reference to Figure 3 that the inner ends of the extension flaps in and their reinforcing strips ii are provided with openings 25 through which the offset ends ill of the hinge straps 9 project but are of suiiicient width transversely to allow limited inward and outward sliding movement of the flaps as the cover sections 2 are opened and closed.

Each of the tubular bars 3 is substantially rectangular in cross section and has its inner or upper side wall provided with a plurality of, in this instance five, openings 26 arranged in longitudinally spaced relation for receiving the adjacent ends of a corresponding number of posts 5, it being understood that corresponding openings 26 in the opposite tubular bars 4 will be arranged in transverse alinement for simultaneously receiving both ends of each post, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4-.

The outer or lower wall of each tube is also provided with similar apertures 26' registering with but of less length than the apertures 26 for receiving the slightly reduced outer ends of the corresponding posts 5; and thereby limiting the inward swinging movement of the tubular bars along the adjacent ends of the posts particularly when the posts are locked to the bars in a manner presently described and at the same time permitting said tubes to swing laterally out of engagement with the posts when the locking members are released.

Each post is provided near its outer ends with transverse apertures 5' which, when the posts are interlocked with the bars '5, will be in longitudinal alinement with each other and with the inter rior of the corresponding tubular bars for receiving suitable locking pins presently described.

That is, each of the tubular bars 4 contains a lock bar 2'5 extending the major portion of the length thereof and slidable endwise therein, each lock .bar being provided with a plurality of, in this instance five, locking pins 28, one for each post 5 and preferably rigid with the lock bar and adapted to simultaneously enter the apertures as 5 in the corresponding ends. of the posts when the lock bar is forced endwise in one direction.

One end of each lock bar 27 is reduced at 21 to form a shoulder 38, said reduced end being adapted to pass through a corresponding aperture 3! in the end wall 32 of the corresponding tubular bar l as the slide bar 21 is moved in one direction, see Figure 5.

A coil spring 33 surrounds each of the reduced ends 27 of the slide bar 2'! and has one end abutting against the shoulder 36 and its other end abutting against the end wall 32, said spring being under compression and normally tending to force the bar 2i endwise in the opposite direction or to its locking position, as shown more clearly in Figures 2, 4, 5, and 6.

The opposite end of each locking bar 2? is provided with an offset handle 35 extendingsome distance beyond the adjacent end of the corresponding tubular bar i, thus providing means by which each locking bar 27 may be moved inwardly against the action of the corresponding spring 33 for withdrawing the locking pins 23, from their locking positions.

Each locking bar 2i is also provided with lateral offset portions 34, one for each of the posts 55 for supporting the locking pins 28 and also for guiding the locking bar.

It will now be observed that the springs 33 exert outward endwise pressure upon the corresponding locking bars 21 so that when the locking pins 28 are engaged in the apertured ends of the posts 5, the terminal ends 35 of the looking bars will project outwardly some distance beyond the corresponding ends of the tubular bars 4 where they are readily accessible for inward movement against the action of the springs 133 to release the locking pins 28 from engagement with the posts.

One of the important features of the invention is that when either of the locking bars 2] is operated against the action of its spring 33 torelease its locking pins 28 from engagement with the adjacent ends of the posts, it will be automatically held in its unlocked position and the corresponding tubular bar Q will be automatically withdrawn from the adjacent ends of the posts and rocked outwardly against the hinge plate of the adjacent cover when the covers are; opened and at the same time the other tubular bar with the posts still attached thereto will also rock outwardly against the hinge plate of the adjacent cover, thereby causing the posts to stand vertically while the back piece i and covers 2 rest upon a desk or other flat support.

For these purposes, portions of each pintle rod 75 in longitudinally spaced relation, each spring having one end passed through a loop 38 on the underside of the back plate 3 and its other end extending through an opening in the lower inner side of the adjacent tubular bar 4 to bear against the inner face of the lower outer side of said bar as shown more clearly in Figure 2, so' that each spring normally exerts outward pressure upon the corresponding tubular bar 4 to release said bars from holding engagement with the ends of the posts 5 when the locking bars 21' are forced out of locking engagement with said posts against the action of the springs 33 through the medium of the handles 35.

The means for holding each locking bar 2'! out of engagement with the adjacent ends of the posts against the action of the corresponding spring 33 comprises in this instance a' leaf spring detent 39 having one end riveted or otherwise secured to the locking bar 2'! and its other end offset outwardly through a slot 40 in the adjacent side of the corresponding tubular bar 4 and extended along said bar to ward the corresponding spring 33, the free end of said detent being tensioncd against said bar and provided with a shoulder 41 arranged to engage the adjacent end wall as 42 of the nearest post-receiving opening 26' when the locking bar 27 is forced endwise to the limit of its movement against the action of the spring 33, as shown by dotted lines in Figures 5 and 6.

The slots 4% are of sufiicient length to permit the endwise movement of the corresponding locking bar 2? from its normal locking position to its post-releasing position.

The means shown for limiting the outward movement of each locking bar 21 through the action of its spring 33 consists of a cross pin or rivet 43 secured to opposite walls of the corresponding tubular member 4 and extending through an elongated slot 43 in the locking bar so that the rear end of the slot may engage the cross pin when the locking bar is forced outwardly by its spring 33, said slot being of sumcient length to permit the endwise movement of the locking bar from one extreme to the other extreme position, see Figures 4 and 5.

For a similar purpose, each locking bar is provided with a plurality of, in this instance five, elongated slots 4, one for each post 5 and each receiving the adjacent end of its corresponding post and of sufficient length to permit the endwise movement of the locking bar from one to the other of its extreme positions.

In order that the tubular members 4 may automatically swing to their full open positions against the inner faces of the adjacent portions of the hinge plates is, the portions of the metal plates registering with the spring detents 4| are cut away at 45 to enable said detents to pass therethrough when the tubular members 4 are released from the posts and forced to their open positions through the action of the springs 31, see Figures 4 and 6.

Operation Assuming that the opposite tubular bars 4 are interlocked in the manner described with the corresponding ends of the posts 5 and that the cover sections are opened fiatwise as shown in Figure 2 ready to receive a multiplicity of leaves to be bound, it being understood that all of the leaves will be provided with registering apertures of suificient size to receive all of the posts.

112 are surrounded by coil springs El arranged Then, in order to assemble the leaves upon the posts, it is simply necessary to move one of the locking bars 27 (in this instance the right hand bar) inwardly against the action of its retracting spring 33 until its locking pins 28 are withdrawn from the apertures 5 in the adjacent ends of the posts whereupon both of the tubular bars 4 will be forced outwardly into engagement with the adjacent portions of the cover sections 2 through the medium of their respective springs 31, thus causing the posts of the other tubular 4 to stand in a substantially vertical position, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2.

The sheets to be bound are then placed in sequence upon the upright posts 5 to rest upon the inner surface of the corresponding cover 2 until the portions of the posts between the openings 5' are substantially filled with the loose leaves.

The first-named cover section 2 is then folded over and upon the assembled leaves, thereby causing a similar folding or closing movement of the adjacent tubular bar 4 over and upon the upper ends of posts 5 so that said posts will be caused to enter the apertures 26 of the then closed right hand tubular bar 4 with the result that the adjacent upper end of one of the posts will trip the detent 39 on the last-named tubular bar for releasing the locking member 21- and permitting the locking pins 28 of said bar to enter the corresponding apertures 5 in the upper ends of the posts, thus completing the binding of the assembled leaves between the covers and at the same time bringing the back plate 3 into relative close relation to the inner ends of the leaves.

It is, of course, understood that both covers may be closed simultaneously or either cover operated independently of the other to effect the interlocking movement of the opposite ends of the posts with the corresponding tubular bars 4 after the leaves have been assembled upon the posts in the manner explained.

When the loose leaves are assembled {and bound in the manner described, they will beheld in their assembled relation by means of the posts 5, and tubular bars with which the opposite ends of the posts are then interlocked through the medium of the locking bars 21 and their corresponding pins 28 which tend to hold the leaves in a more or less Vertical position relatively to the back plate 3 and back piece I, thus permitting either or both of the cover sections 2 to be opened and closed at will about the axes of the pintles I2.

Under these conditions, either of the tubular bars 4 may be released from interlocking engagement with the adjacent ends of the posts 5 by simply forcing the corresponding locking bar 21 inwardly against the action of its retracting spring 33 until locking pins 23 are withdrawn from the apertures 5 in the adjacent ends of the posts whereupon the corresponding detent 39 will automatically interlock with the adjacent end wall of the nearest post opening 26 of the tubular bar 4 to hold said locking bar in its released position against the action of the spring 33, thus permitting the automatic opening of both of the tubular bars 4 outwardly until limited by their engagement with the adjacent portions of the cover sections 2 or their hinge plates l9, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, and. incidentally causing the posts which remain interlocked with the other tubular bar to assume substantially vertical positions and thereby per- 7 mit the leaves to be withdrawn and replaced with others, if desired.

What I claim is:

l. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back section, a post-supporting member hinged to the back section to swing laterally, posts projecting from one side of said member and adapted to enter openings in the leaves, and means tending to rock said member in one direction to cause the posts to assume a position at substantially right angles to the plane of the back section.

2. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back section, a cover section hinged to the back section to open and close, a post-supporting member hinged to the cover section to swing laterally relatively to both sections, posts projecting from one side of said member and adapted to enter openings in the leaves, and means tending to rock said member toward the cover member for causing the posts to assume a position at substantially right angles to the plane of the cover section, when the cover section is open.

3. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back section, a post-supporting member hinged to the back section to swing laterally, posts projecting from one side of said member and adapted to enter openings in the leaves, and spring means for rocking said member to a position which will cause the posts to stand in positions at substantially right angles to the plane of the back member.

4. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back section, a cover section hinged to the back section to open and close, a post-supporting member hinged to the cover section to swing laterally, posts projecting from one side of said member and adapted to enter openings in the leaves, and spring means for rock-ing said member laterally in one direction to cause the posts to assume a position at substantially right angles to the plane of the cover section, when the cover section is open.

5. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back section, a cover section hinged to the back section to open and close, a post-supporting member hinged to the back section and to the cover sec tion to swing laterally toward and from each of said sections, posts projecting from one side of said member and adapted to enter openings in the leaves, and spring means for rocking said member in one direction to cause the posts to assume a position at substantially right angles to the plane of the back section and cover section when the cover section is opened.

6. A loose-leaf binder comprising a post-supporting member having longitudinally spaced openings extending through opposite sides thereof, posts having corresponding ends inserted in said openings and provided with transverse apertures, said posts being adaipted to enter openings in the leaves, a locking bar movable lengthwise of and upon said member and provided with looking pins arranged to enter the apertures in the posts as the locking bar is moved in one direction, spring means for urging said bar in said direction, and a detent mounted on the locking bar to move endwise therewith and arranged to engage one of the openings of said post-supporting member to hold the locking bar in its unlocking position when moved in the opposite direction.

7. A loose-leaf binder comprising a post-supporting member having longitudinally spaced openings extending through opposite sides thereof, posts having corresponding ends inserted in said openings and provided with transverse apertures, said posts being adapted to enter openings in the leaves, a locking bar movable lengthwise of and upon said member and provided with looking pins arranged to enter the apertures in the posts as the locking bar is moved in one direction, spring means for urging said bar in said direction, and a detent mounted on the locking bar to move endwise therewith and arranged to engage one of the openings of said p0st-supp0rting member to hold the locking bar in its unlocking position when moved in the opposite direction, one of said posts being arranged to trip the detent from its holding position when inserted in said opening in said member.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising a back section, a cover section hinged to the back section to open and close,'a leaf post, a leaf post supporting member hinged to said back section to swing laterally to engage and disengage the post, locking means normally locking the leaf post to said member and being manually operable to unlock said post, means operable for maintaining said locking means in unlocked position upon disengagement of the post from the supporting member and operable by reengagernent of the post with said member to render said locking means operable to lock said post.

9. A loose leaf binder including a leaf post, a leaf post supporting member, said post and supporting member having relative movement to effect engagement and disengagement of said elements, locking means carried by the supporting member and being operable to automatically lock the post to the supporting member upon engagement of the former with the latter, and being manually operable to unlock said post, means for holding the locking means in unlocking position while the post and the supporting member are disengaged, and means tending to move said supporting member from engagement with the post.

10. A loose leaf binder comprising a back section, a cover section hinged to the back section to open and close, a leaf post, a leaf post supporting member hinged to one of said sections to swing laterally to engage and disengage JAMES COOPER. 

